Mildrith of Liscumb

Mildrith of Liscumb was the first wife of Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

Biography
Mildrith was born in Liscumb to a West Saxon noble family, the goddaughter of Ealdorman Odda of Devon. Her father was a nobleman who, as a devout Christian, had promised a tenth of his lands and income to the Catholic Church; the Church continued to collect income even if there was drought or if the Danes raided, leaving the family 2,000 shillings in debt after the father's death. In 876, Mildrith married Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a new courtier under King Alfred the Great, who sought to force Uhtred to be loyal to him by indebting him with the marriage. Uhtred was initially upset about the marriage, but, the day after his wedding, he and Mildrith finally consummated, and he came to love his wife, who was soon pregnant.